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Quote: Originally Posted by MayanLily Katie, your planning thread is AMAZING! You must let us know how you made out at the Paradisus/Sapphire. Have a perfect wedding. Where did you get the cute first aid kits?? Hi, I just bought first aid kits from target or Walmart. I believe they are Johnson and Johnson and got a label from this site and printed it on sticky paper and covered up the front of the kits. I am going to write my review really soon so I'll let you know how everything went.

I'm back!!! The wedding was fantastic and I am off from work this week so I will try to post a review as soon as I can (we leave for the honeymoon Friday and we'll be gone for 3 weeks). Everything went better than I expected. I don't think you have anything to worry about. I will try to tell the whole story from start to finish in my review. I hope everyone is doing well.

Well everyone.... We leave tomorrow to head down there and then the wedding is on Saturday. I cannot wait. Thanks for all of your help and I will report back with details. We have a few days between when we get back and when we go on our honeymoon so I will try to post everything I have during that week. Yeah!

Quote: Originally Posted by *Meagan* everything looks great!! Is there a story behind your cake topper?? COngrats! I have always loved hamburgers and as a kid my friends and family always said that I would probably serve hamburgers at my wedding. We didn't wind up going that route, but I had to have hamburgers at my wedding somehow.

Quote: Originally Posted by Cassie Great planning thread! Where did you get the picture frames for your parents? I love the sayings on them. I got them at redenvelope.com. They are a little smaller than I anticipated (not much larger than a normal sized photo) and the engraving is faint. But they have a nice clasic look.

Fans and Bubbles: From Michaels Our Cake Toppers: From Etsy Maracas: Not sure if you can read the tags, but they say: Instead of tapping on your glass, here is a system with Mexican Class, stand and shake with all your might to see the groom kiss his bride tonight. I think that is all I have, I am sure I am forgetting something, but I thin this is long enough already. I hope you have enjoyed it and let me know if you have any questions. THE END!!!

Out of Town Bags: I definitely had more ideas that I could possibly pull off so here’s what wound up in the OOT bags. Welcome Books- I bought small photo albums from Walmart and changed out the covers and put in some pages of information In Sickness and in Health bags: And my favorite part: The T-shirts Please excuse the Spanish we had made some changes to the saying and somehow they did not get put into the final shirt. It makes sense, but I am not sure it is the best Spanish grammar in the world (my Spanish teacher would not likely be proud). We got these from CustomInk.com Wedding Stuff: Escort Cards: Flip Flop Holders from theknot.com Table Numbers: I bought frames from Walmart and put in pictures of ourselves on different trips that we went on. Our Sand Ceremony: from amazon.com Fans and Bubbles: From Michaels http://i801.photobucket.com/albums/yy TO BE CONTINUED...

Dress: I am a little nervous about putting a picture of my dress on here, because I know my fiancé occasionally will check the forum, so I am going to put a link to the website and when I write my review I will be sure to include picture of me in it. Jes- Don’t Follow this Link!! Wedding dresses Blue collection from Mori Lee Style 4523 Luxe Taffeta Shoes: Left: ceremony shoes from JCrew, Right: Reception shoes from Steve Madden Groom’s Suit: Cotton Suit from JCrew and tie from Banana Republic We decided not to have bridesmaids or groomsmen (many people didn’t like this idea, but in the end it made our lives much easier and some of my friends actually thanked me). So I am giving gifts to some of my close friends and our parents. Starfish necklaces for friends and mothers: Frames for parents: You can’t really read, but there is an inscription on each. One reads: Today a groom, tomorrow a husband, forever your son. The other reads: Today a bride, tomorrow a wife, forever your daughter. We also ordered handkerchiefs for our parents and grandparents, but they haven’t arrived yet (fingers crossed on that one). TO BE CONTINUED...

I am so excited to do a planning thread because I love reading everyone else’s. I love that it is a place where you can get a ton of information in one place. I am very thankful to the creators of this site and all of the members who have provided me with (too) many ideas for my wedding. I do not remember the names of those that I “borrowed†from and I wish I had kept track better to give credit where credit is due- so if you see your ideas feel free to take credit. Thank you again- and here goes. (it's likely to be long, so I will put THE END on the final post) Rings: Engagement Ring: Tension set, laboratory created diamond from DNea Wedding Bands: Mine- Blue laboratory created diamond eternity band from DNea, His- Green Karat Binary Ring (we engraved a special saying written in binary code) Location: I always knew I wanted a destination wedding (I believe I told my mom around age 7 that I would be married on a beach). The process all started with trying to find a resort. We have family and friends coming from Texas and New York so we wanted somewhere that would be affordable to fly to from these places. I was dead set against getting married in Mexico (last time I was there I had a horrible case of Montezuma’s Revenge and that was not what I wanted to associate with my wedding). I had to decide between getting married somewhere I thought was really cool or being able to have my friends and family around me. I chose friends and family and have since have become very excited about getting married in Mexico. We chose the Paradisus Riviera Cancun which has now changed to the NOW Sapphire Riviera Cancun Resort. First six months before our wedding the wedding coordinator left, then a month before our wedding the resort was sold and changed names, that has been fun to deal with. The planning process with the resort has not been fun. They have been very slow to respond to e-mails and difficult to get in touch with. I think everything will work out in the end, but it got frustrating at times. I’ve taken a more relaxed approach these last few weeks and I am not worried about how it will turn out. Here’s the website. Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun - Photo Gallery Save the Dates/Invitations/Before We go Letter: Because of this website I decided that I could make my own save the dates and invitations. I don’t really know why I thought I could do this, but everyone made it look so easy that I went for it. It was a very long process and I am still deciding if it was worth it, but here they are. We saved a lot of money doing them ourselves, but it was definitely time consuming. All of guests were very impressed and it felt pretty cool to get compliments when you did it yourself. I also sent a letter with information about a month before we left. I posted the templates for all of these items in the appropriate places on the forum. If you can’t find them PM me and I would be happy to send them to you. TO BE CONTINUED...

Hi, I know that the Now Sapphire Riviera Cancun used to be the Paradisus Rivieria Cancun (they bought the hotel on May first) so if you are looking for information about that one you can go over to the Paradisus Thread (although we are all sort of in the dark with the hotel changing over a lot of things are changing). Not sure if this helped, but I thought I'd try.

Quote: Originally Posted by avong1228 What about swapping things out? I already have a photog so I wouldn't want that in the package ... any word on that? Also, is the day passes the same? I'm so glad they are being more responsive! 3 weeks ... yahhh! How exciting! I am not sure about swapping with the packages- they seem to be adhering to them. We also already have a photographer, so I am not sure what we will do about that. They let us change the food, but not without checking with the higher ups and I think mostly because we pulled the "we wanted it before you changed" card. I also am not sure about the day passes- all of our guests are staying at the resort. I believe it is still the same. Sorry I wasn't more informative this time.

Quote: Originally Posted by avong1228 Great info! Do you know what you'll choose yet? Did they say how much extra for centerpieces on the other tables? I assume there is still an outside vendor fee?? Also is th eopen bar thing for the cocktail hour and reception? How long? Thanks!! Angie We are not sure which package we will choose yet. We are doing the Mexican Buffet instead of the package foods which they are honoring because we requested it before they changed over- but we have to pay the difference in costs. The open Bar is for the cocktail hour and for the reception for 1 hour cocktail and 3 hour reception. The outside vendor fee it still $300. I hope I am not misquoting anything, this is what I've been told, but sometimes I get more than one answer for the same question- so I would double check everything with them. I did not ask about centerpieces because we aren't doing any. I have to say I am getting excited because they are much more responsive to all of my questions now that we are 3 weeks away. I was starting to get really scared because they weren't responding and we were getting close to our date, but I think it will all work out.

Quote: Originally Posted by selassie11 Nice! Does this newsletter take the place of what folks are calling a "pre-travel brochure?" This is what I sent instead of a pre-travel brochure. It has all information about the hotel, the airport, what to pack, the currency, what to wear, etc.

Hi everyone, I got a bit more information from the hotel so I thought I would share. I posted the information for the divine package a few posts ago- so now I got the information for the Now to Eternity Package. The hors d' oevres included (not sure for which package) are: Ham And Asparragus Assorted Cheese Tray with Crackers Tuna Mousse On Toasted Rounds I am not thrilled with these and will ask if it is possible to change them. The Food options for the NTE package are: APPETIZERS Tuna tartar with sesame seeds and fresh coriander, sesame crisp and sweet soy sauce Spinach salad with goat cheese, roasted apples and walnut confit; mustard dressing Caesar salad, garlic croutons and parmesan cheese SOUPS Mushrooms and squash blossom soup with parmesan cheese Creamy cheese and corn mushroom soup French onion soup MAIN COURSES Supreme of chicken; spicy almond sauce, fetuccini and sautéed vegetables Beef tournedos Duo; tomato and green pepper sauce Fish filet; white whine creamy sauce, rice and vegetables You must choose one from each category that everyone will eat. The cost per person after the included 25 is $15 pp for the cocktail hour and $48 pp for the reception. There is also a fee for the open bar which I think I misquoted in my last post. I believe it is $350. To have the Ipod set up with speakers it is $100 per hour. They will set up some decorations for you without a fee, but if it is extensive they will charge you. There is only a centerpiece for the Bride and Groom's table included in the packages. I think that is all I got for now. My wedding is in 3 weeks so I will let you know how it goes.

I've had the dream too, but mine included my dad shouting at the wedding coordinator that there was no food and trying to find food at different places in the hotel. Also Robert Downey Jr. was at my wedding and he gave drugs to my photographer, causing the photogapher to make us pose in very strange ways for our pictures. I had the stress dreams about 3 months out, but they have stopped now that it is nearer (I don't know why- we don't have any more planned now than we did then). So maybe they will subside for you too.

I know a lot of people are saying- don't bother to call the people who did not respond, but in my situation- I've had at least two people not RSVP and wind up booking and coming to the wedding. It is a good thing that we followed up with them or else they would have been surprises with no where to sit and no food to eat at the wedding. I would definately follow up with people who do not RSVP (from personal experience). I also had a lot of people say they were coming, but when it came down to the wire they couldn't come- so having an RSVP date that still gave me time to plan and buy things, and following up with RSVPs really helped us.

Hi, Here is my Newsletter that I have sent out about a month before we leave for the wedding. I thought I would share in case it could help out any other brides. I can't seem to get the attachment to post. If you would like it PM me and I will send it to you. I used Publisher and it had a nice newsletter format that I used.

A little bit more information. I received the menu for the divine package. I am not sure how it works- if we choose one entree and everyone has to eat it, or if the guests get to choose their own entree. I am trying to find that out. Divine package, and the following menu options of this package, it is necessary to choose one for each course. APPETIZERS Seared tuna slices; wasabi spume, olive oil and oriental style vegetables Mixed lettuce and shrimps; diced mango and ginger, mango dressing Salmon tartar; cucumber and lemon scented olive oil Mixed lettuce with blue cheese and walnut confit; honey-balsamic dressing SOUPS Asparagus creamy soup with smoked salmon Mushrooms and roasted garlic veloute Creamy lobster soup, brandy scented Shrimp minestrone MAIN COURSES Supreme of chicken stuffed with seafood, "fine champagne" sauce Surf and turf of beef filet and shrimps, wild mushroom sauce and mild sweet pepper sauce Beef filet Bordaleise; Duchess potato and asparagus Shrimps provençal; mushrooms risotto and fine herbs buttered vegetables DESSERTS Creamy white chocolate cake aux mint Fruit mille fuille and vanilla sauce Pistaccio panacota Warm apple tart and creamy almond sauce

I had the same problem and couldn't get a straight answer. Our resort said 4 days but we are counting the day we arrive.

Finally I got in touch with them and thought I would share the information I got so far. They are supposed to send me the menus for the new packages today, but I haven't received them (shocker). They said the food would be the same, just different packages names (I am not sure exactly what that means). They also mentioned that for the cocktail hour it is $15 per person (not sure if that is for divine package or the Now to eternity package) over the included 25 and for the dinner it is $48 per person over the 25 included for the now to eternity package and $53 per person over the included 25 for the divine package. They also mentioned that it is a $250 fee for the open bar. The cake is $6 per person after 25 and for the toast it is $4 per person after 25. They also mentioned that they are working out the music/sound system provider but that is not settled yet and it looks like they may not be working with SWANK any longer. That's all I got right now. I hope it helps.

Hi everyone. I hope everyone is doing well. I am freaking out a little bit. Our wedding is in a month and we haven't figured anything out. We are trying to figure out if we want to try to go with one of the old packages or if we want to go with one of the new one, but I have not been able to get anyone there to answer my questions. Does anyone have any information about what food is included in the Platinum or Silver wedding reception/cocktail hour. Also do you know the cost per person beyond the 25 included? I am starting to think that Cecilia doesn't like me. She has never responded to one of my e-mails since she took over. Daniela has occasionally responded to me, but Cecilia has never. I understand waiting for a response, but never responding is starting to get to me. I called today, but no one was there and the voice mailbox is full. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I have had so many strange dreams about my wedding- aloso others not related to the wedding, but related to the stress of the wedding (I call them my anxiety dreams). I had a dream that it was time for the wedding but we hadn't finished planning it (kind of like the reality of my situation now) and so we got to Mexico and we had the wedding, but there was no food for the guests and my dad was yelling at the hotel staff and trying to find food. Also Robert Downey Jr. was there and he gave drugs to my photographer. So then the photorgrapher was making us pose in very strange poses because he was on drugs. There was more- but I'll spare you the long version. Most people really enjoy the part about Robert Downey Jr.

So I just heard from my travel agent. The resort e-mailed her and this is what they said. Please note that as of May 1, 2010 Paradisus Riviera Cancun will no longer be part of the Paradisus Sol Melia group. They will be part of AMResorts. The new name will be NOW Sapphire. Please let your clients know. There will NO changes to the resort except for the name So hopefully everything will be alright. Our wedding is in 5 weeks I hope they don't decide to do anything crazy between now and then.

How did you find out about who bought the hotel? Is there a new website? Does anyone have any information?

We also only got about 50% back at the deadline, but we tracked people down to find out. Good thing we did because we had about 7 people who didn't RSVP wind up booking. I wouldn't want to have been surprised by them showing up. I gave everyone one week after the deadline and then had family members ask each other, and called a few people. I couldn't handle not knowing. Also I am a chronic late RSVPer so I gave people the benefit of the doubt (I sent the invites out pretty early so some people lost them).